diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index 74b7393dbe85..e7f945fefbc4 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -4018,10 +4018,11 @@ static void nvme_add_ns_cdev(struct nvme_ns *ns)
 	set_bit(NVME_NS_CDEV_LIVE, &ns->flags);
 }
 
-static struct nvme_ns_head *nvme_alloc_ns_head(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl,
+static struct nvme_ns_head *nvme_alloc_ns_head(struct nvme_ns *ns,
 		struct nvme_ns_info *info)
-	__must_hold(&ctrl->subsys->lock)
+	__must_hold(&ns->ctrl->subsys->lock)
 {
+	struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl = ns->ctrl;
 	struct nvme_ns_head *head;
 	size_t size = sizeof(*head);
 	int ret = -ENOMEM;
@@ -4049,6 +4050,7 @@ static struct nvme_ns_head *nvme_alloc_ns_head(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl,
 	ratelimit_state_init(&head->rs_nuse, 5 * HZ, 1);
 	ratelimit_set_flags(&head->rs_nuse, RATELIMIT_MSG_ON_RELEASE);
 	kref_init(&head->ref);
+	ns->head = head;
 
 	if (head->ids.csi) {
 		ret = nvme_get_effects_log(ctrl, head->ids.csi, &head->effects);
@@ -4072,6 +4074,7 @@ static struct nvme_ns_head *nvme_alloc_ns_head(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl,
 	ida_free(&ctrl->subsys->ns_ida, head->instance);
 out_free_head:
 	kfree(head);
+	ns->head = NULL;
 out:
 	if (ret > 0)
 		ret = blk_status_to_errno(nvme_error_status(ret));
@@ -4158,7 +4161,7 @@ static int nvme_init_ns_head(struct nvme_ns *ns, struct nvme_ns_info *info)
 				info->nsid);
 			goto out_unlock;
 		}
-		head = nvme_alloc_ns_head(ctrl, info);
+		head = nvme_alloc_ns_head(ns, info);
 		if (IS_ERR(head)) {
 			ret = PTR_ERR(head);
 			goto out_unlock;